The Governing Council approves the new Statutes of the Rey Juan Carlos University

The Governing Council of the Community of Madrid has approved the new Statutes of the Rey Juan Carlos University through Decree 69/2026, of September 2, published in the Official Gazette of the Community of Madrid number 210, of September 3, 2026. The regulation, promoted by the Ministry of Education, Science and Universities, replaces the statutes in effect since 2003 and reorganizes the governance of one of the main public universities in Madrid.

The text was approved by the Plenary of the Claustro of the Rey Juan Carlos University and submitted to the Community of Madrid for legality control, which materialized in the report issued by the Directorate General for Universities. Final approval took place at the Governing Council meeting on September 2, 2026, upon the proposal of Minister Mercedes Zarzalejo Carbajo, and with the signature of President Isabel Díaz Ayuso.

Regulatory Framework and Repeal

The new statutes are issued under the Organic Law 2/2023, of March 22, on the University System (LOSU), particularly Article 38 and the first transitional provision. Upon their entry into force, the previous statutes, approved by Decree 22/2003, of February 27, are repealed, as well as any provisions of equal or lower rank that oppose the new text.

The regulation will enter into force on the day following its publication in the OFFICIAL GAZETTE OF THE COMMUNITY OF MADRID, that is, September 4, 2026.

Structure and Governance of the University

The annex of the decree contains the full text of the statutes, organized into ten titles that regulate everything from the university’s structure to its economic and financial regime. Among its main blocks are:

• Title I: university structure (faculties, schools, departments, research institutes, and affiliated centers).
• Titles II and III: collegiate bodies (Social Council, Claustro, Governing Council, Student Council) and unipersonal bodies (rectorate, vice-rectorates, general secretariat, and management).
• Title V: university community, with chapters dedicated to teaching and research staff, students, and technical, management, and administration and services staff.
• Titles VI to IX: teaching, research, university extension, services, internationalization, and economic and financial regime.

Transitional Regime

The transitional provisions establish the adaptation calendar for the new regulation:

• Bodies with regulatory capacity must adapt their regulations within one year from the date of entry into force.
• Representation and governing bodies shall maintain their composition until they are reconstituted following elections; elected single-person officials shall continue until the end of their term, with the possibility of a single reelection for 6 years.
• Newly created bodies or those whose mandate has ended must call for elections within 3 months.
• Employment stability is guaranteed for teaching staff from the defunct «Ramón Carande» Center for Higher Social and Legal Studies and the Official School of Tourism, in accordance with the agreement signed on March 15, 2002.

The statutory renewal directly affects the organization and governance of the Rey Juan Carlos University, which has thousands of students and staff across its campuses in Móstoles, Alcorcón, Fuenlabrada, Vicálvaro, and Aranjuez. The new regulation, adapted to the LOSU, redefines the governing bodies, the participation of the university community, and the institution’s operating regime, marking a milestone in its autonomy and its academic and research projection.

Source: Official Gazette of the Community of Madrid, no. 210, September 3, 2026, section I.A (General Provisions), page 8 (official reference: Decree 69/2026, of September 2; file 03/14.135/26).